Fairlady Z Body and Dash Resto ?

[Phoenix_400]

I am currently restoring a 77 Datsun Fairlady Z in North Carolina. This is a RHD 2+2 that has been heavily modified and apparently left for dead at a junk yard. The car has a turbo hood scoop grafted into the original hood, 240z front turn signals for the front air dam, both front and rear spoilers and N42 block and head w/ cam(unknown spec) triple mikunis and a 6-1 header with free flowing exhaust.

I have 3 questions about the restoration. 1.)Are the Euro and Jap style taillights the same? the car was hit in rear and one light replaced with an all red light other side has amber turn signal. 2.) The dash on this car is cracked all to hell. Would I be better off Getting a dash imported somehow or just have it completely stripped down and repadded by an interior shop when i have the rest of the interior redone? 3.) Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen a 240 spoiler with words "EVA DATSUN Z" molded into it in reverse lettering(ambulance style)? I have this on the car but i have never seen it before.

I would appreciate any help you guys could give me. thanx

DAVIS

[26th-Z]

I think the "Euro" tail light with amber is correct. Check with Midwest Z for lighting. The dash can be recovered by another club sponsor - Dashboard Restorations. I currently have a dash in process. I think it is the closest restoration to original. I can't comment on the EVA spoiler. Good limes with your restoration!

[Mr Camouflage]

For the last time they are "Aussie" tail lights not "Euro"

Probably more correctly they are Japanese tail lights, which didn't need to be changed for the australian/new zealand and european market. You have funny laws there in the US so you had to get different tail lights.

[HS30-H]

Hi Davis,

I got a sense of deja vu when I saw your post. I think we got pretty close to sorting out the origin of the EVA airdam / spoiler last time didn't we?EVA thread

EVA were an FRP / GRP specialist moulding company in Japan. They made some race car parts, as well as some aftermarket stuff for production cars.

The wiring for the Japanese domestic market tail lights was slightly different to that of the 'European' ( UK / Australian ) market versions - although they both had the amber indicator lenses. You can interchange them if you fiddle with wiring.

I'd get the dash recovered if I were you ( see DASHBOARD RESTORATIONS here on this site ) as uncracked RHD dashes are in VERY short supply these days, and will cost you a pretty penny to buy and then ship.

Regarding your further question about the EVA front airdam / spoiler, is it like this one?:

[Phoenix_400]

Hey thanks for the info guys. The whole deal with the "euro" lights came from i think zedd findings. They said they could get me one for like $275. Anyway, how much would it cost for Dashboard Restorations to do my dash? shipping where i'm fairly concerned, I live in NC on the east coast. Probably gonna have to send my console too.

Alan, good to hear from the Z historian again. and YES, that is the airdam on my car. Glad to finally see that thing some where else (now just gotta find Pics of my wheels so i can figure what the hell they are).

I really appreciate the input guys. Now, i just gotta get the hell outta Afganistan so i can actually lay into this thing. (not to mention i REALLY REALLY miss driving). But I'd say havin at least $9-10Gs to spend on the car makes up for all of it.

Take it easy back there in civilization everyone,

DAVIS

[26th-Z]

A new tail light is going to be in that price range. Stunning, isn't it? There is a series of threads concerning Dashboard Restorations. Roughly, a dash is $575 from Vancouver, Washington. I paid another $120 or so for shipping to Florida and back. With a dash, shipping is based on size, not weight.

[Phoenix_400]

Yeah, this stuff is expensive. I had an idea about get some amber material used for that stuff and just cutting to fit. Other than the turn signal lens the tailights are identical. Would that be completely stupid?

Also was hoping to find someplace kinda local, or at least somewhere in the Southeast that could do a good job on the dash. I really got no problem with sending to Dashboard Restorations. it'd just be less hassle if i could get it done stateside ya know. Ah well, gotta pay ta play.

Take it easy ppl,

DAVIS

[Kerrigan]

From what I can find out researching our '71 FairladyZ the amber/white/red taillights were home market. The Euro lens was the clear ones for the front turnsignal/parking light. Something about emergency vehicles having amber lights in front in Europe in those days so cars could not. The rear lens are getting hard to find. Got the last set a Nissan dealer had in Canada!